Welcome, to the Extreme Gamer - Game of the Year Awards 2007. I'll skip the paragraph long explanation of the games in 2007, we all know as gamers it has been an exceptional year with the next-generation consoles picking up more steam and the portables chugging along as normal. A few big names have returned to gaming in '07, let's see if they can cap our GOTY Awards for 2007. As always, thanks for all our readers, and contributors in 2007... Enjoy our run-down of the BEST GAMES of 2007.
Best Action Game
Best Racing Game
Best Platform Game
Best Sports Game
Best Fighting Game
Best Role Playing Game
Best Shooter
Best Puzzle
Best Party/Music
Assassin's Creed | Publisher: Ubisoft | Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
It’s been a huge year for action gaming in 2007 with a list of spectacular new gaming properties that have been released along the return of a few classic gaming characters. The final quarter of the year was filled with some excellent games which includes the PS3 coming out of nowhere with a few uncharted entries. Despite wanting to choose multiple winners there can only be one. After long debates and revisiting the nominees the action game of the year award goes to Assassin's Creed. Underestimated in a crowd of action games, Assassin's Creed combination of fun gameplay, gripping action sequences and complex storyline make it a memorable and highly enjoyable experience that no gaming fan should overlook.
Project Gotham Racing 4 | Publisher: Microsoft | Developer: Bizarre Creations
The race track is jammed with a number of proven top performers returning to take the championship of Best Racing game in 2007. Project Gotham makes it final run with developer Bizarre, Forza Motorsport and Formula One: CE out perform in sim racing while Colin McRae, Sega Rally, Flatout and Motorstrom play in the mud. Washing away the mud, and half the simulation aspects off their windshield races, Project Gotham Racing 4 is the game that finishes first across the finish line. Refined upon what made the series a success the fourth entry entry has grown into its own. More than an experience that can be enjoyed by yourself, Project Gotham Racing 4 blurs the line between offline and online gaming with exceptional online and offline game modes. On two wheels, or four, Project Gotham rolls up in the ride of the year.
Runner-Up: Forza Motorsport 2 (Microsoft/Turn 10 Studios) Honorable Mentions:Motorstorm, DiRT, Formula One: CE, Sega Rally Revo
Super Mario Galaxy | Publisher: Nintendo | Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Super Mario escapes the sunshine and blasts off into outer space in with his first offering for the Wii. Giving the award away for Best Platform Game in 2007 is easy, it goes to the franchise that defined the genre of platforming gaming, Super Mario. Mark another one up for the plumber turned international icon, and planet leaping hero, Super Mario in Super Mario Galaxy.
Skate | Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: EA Black Box
The long running Madden franchise had a great run in 2008 with its multi-console release that finally is starting to feel next-gen, however EA Tiburon can't compete with the new kid in town Skate. Despite having a few technical issues, EA Black Box's Skate is worth a look if you have the Tony Hawk blues. Timing is everything and Skate couldn't have picked a better year to debut since the sporting genre of gaming has hit a stale period in development. It's still up in the air if Skate can become the new Tony Hawk, but if its first edition of the game is any indication, Black Box will need to buy some shades because the future is looking bright.
Runner-Up: Madden 08 (Electronic Arts/EA Tiburon) Honorable Mentions:The Bigs, NBA 2K8, NHL 08, Pro Evolution Soccer 2007
Virtua Fighter 5 | Publisher: SEGA | Developer: SEGA-AM2
One of the most acclaimed fighting franchises of all time Virtua Fighter comes out swinging with two new characters, updated graphics and online capabilities on the Xbox 360. Released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 the fifth version of Virtua Fighter showcases why Sega's fighting series has remained on the top of mountain of fighting games over the years.
Runner-Up:WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 (THQ/Yuke's Entertainment) Honorable Mentions:Bleach: The Blade of Fate, Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution
Mass Effect | Publisher: Microsoft | Developer: Bioware
It’s not only the action and shooter genre that has a competitive spirit in 2007, the role-playing genre also fallows suit. 2007 marked by a number of first including Zelda’s first DS release and Super Paper Mario’s entry on the Wii. Bioware also gives their futuristic epic, Mass Effect a whirl on the Xbox 360 right beside the exclusive Hironobu Sakaguchi produced Blue Dragon. The list doesn’t stop there it’s almost impossible to mention RPGs without bringing up our last years GOTY; The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion which has been released on the PS3, along its twisted Expansion Pack, The Shivering Isles. You can should stop until you mark in the PSP that also boasted a number of great RPGs games which include a PS2 remake in Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness and a few other new comers with Jeanne D’Arc, Brave Story and Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure.
Of course there can only be one.... and 2007's best role-playing game is Mass Effect. Conjuring up everything that was good from Bioware's last three landmark role playing games, Mass Effect tells a gripping science fiction tale blending elements of Star Trek and Star Wars together keeping us at the helm of the Normandy for hours on end.
Runner-Up: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo/Nintendo) Honorable Mentions:Blue Dragon, Super Paper Mario, Jeanne D'Arc, Shivering Isles Expansion Pack
Bioshock | Publisher: 2K Games| Developer: 2K Boston/2K Australia
The largest gaming release of all time, Halo 3 goes up against a number of formality foes in 2007. 2007 boasts a list of anticipated releases including Half-Life 2 release on the consoles, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Unreal Tournament III, Metroid Prime 3 and the list goes on. In a category that is normally swept by Master Chief, it seems his Warthog skills won’t save him as a new monster is brewing under the sea.
Bioshock form 2K Games comes out of the depths to introduce a new level of customization and deep single player adventuring that made this genre a smash hit. More than rolling through a large blockade of enemies and grabbing the best gun is the morphing plasmid powers in Bioshock. Eerie, atmospheric, suspense, and gripping, Bioshock is the perfect embodiment of a FPS that shows us that a little innovation goes a long way. The Chief isn’t far off from Bioshock with its innovative Forge; however we can’t get over the impact of Rapture.
Runner-Up: Halo 3 (Microsoft/Bungie) Honorable Mentions:Call of Duty 4, Half-Life 2,, Metroid Prime 3, Unreal Tournament III
Portal | Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Valve Corporation
Coming out of software package simply called "The Orange Box" is the delightful puzzle game named Portal. Using the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, Portal takes your brain and rearranges your brain and the normal way you tackle puzzles. Portal might be a short experience, but it's one that needs to be investigated if you have ever had an urge to solve a puzzle.
Runner-Up: Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of the Warlords (D3 Publisher/Vicious Cycle-Infinite) Honorable Mentions:Luxor 2, Quickspot, Meteos: Disney Edition, Crush, Brain Age 2
Rock Band | Publisher: MTV Games| Developer: Harmonix Music Systems
Music games are continuing to be a strong market that transfers over to the Party Game genre with their multiplayer focus. In 2007, Harmonix’s Rock Band stands taking the idea of a fake band one step further. Rock Band has excellent multiplayer aspects with four player interaction that requires everyone to be one the four count playing as a team. Try a few songs or a whole set list, Rockband is more fun then the traditional party game style. If this is Rock Band’s first go at gaming, we can’t wait to see what beats are introduced next year.
Runner-Up: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Activision/Neversoft) Honorable Mentions:Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action
